Boeing,
through its Australian subsidiary,
has unveiled an image featuring the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a "loyal wingman" type drone,
alongside its MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone demonstrator designed for the U.S. Navy.
The Pentagon confirmed its acquisition of at least one MQ-28 last year, intending to employ
it in support of advanced unmanned aircraft and autonomy initiatives within the U.S. Air Force.
Recent reports have revealed Boeing's proposal for a carrier-capable version of the Ghost Bat,
adding another dimension to its potential capabilities.
The photograph showcasing the MQ-28 and MQ-25 demonstrator together was shared across different
Boeing social media platforms. Although Boeing did not disclose the specific location or date
when the picture was taken, it seems the snaps are from MidAmerica Airport in St. Louis, Missouri.
Viewers may note that this airport is recognized as the base for the MQ-25 T1 demonstrator.
Boeing stated on Twitter, “Our autonomous duo meets at last. The MQ-28 Ghost Bat,
developed in Australia, provides fighter-like performance to expand airborne missions. The MQ-25
Stingray refuels fighters to keep the mission going. That’s unmatched uncrewed airpower."
In this video, Defense Updates analyzes why Boeing MQ-25 Stingray & MQ-28 Ghost Bat autonomous duo
is incredibly promising ? Let's get into the details.
According to a recent report from Breaking Defense, Krystle Carr, Boeing's director of
autonomous collaborative platforms, confirmed the arrival of the drone was for testing purposes.
However, specific details regarding the timing and intended recipient were not disclosed.
When questioned further, Carr opted not to provide additional information,
and Boeing representatives redirected any subsequent inquiries to the Air Force.
Unlike conventional drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper, these drones operate in a
different manner. They are not controlled remotely by a pilot in a traditional sense;
instead, they are directed through a user-friendly - point-and-click
interface that can be accessed through a simple touch screen or desktop.
They don’t need constant assistance for navigation and tactical tasks which can
help in freeing up the operator to focus on the broader view.
Boeing MQ-25 Stingray is an aerial refueling drone
that resulted from the Carrier-Based Aerial-Refueling System (CBARS) program
The primary role of the Stingray drones will be to provide crucial
aerial refueling support to the Navy's carrier air wings.
Additionally, these drones possess the capability to operate in a secondary role,
undertaking intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions as needed.
In October 2017, U.S. Navy released the final MQ-25 Stingray RFP.
The Navy's goal for the aircraft is to be able to deliver
15,000 lb (6,800 kg) of fuel total to 4 to 6 airplanes at a range of 930 km or 580 mi.
The competitors were Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, General Atomics, and Boeing.
Lockheed Martin put on the table, their Sea Ghost design based on the RQ-170 Sentinel
Northrop Grumman initially proposed X-47B but later withdrew, stating it wouldn’t be able
to execute the program under the terms of the service’s request for proposals.
General Atomics proposed the Sea Avenger concept which is an enlarged version of the Avenger
drone customized for air refueling. Boeing came into the competition,
with a full-fledged prototype derived from its Phantom Ray demonstrator which ultimately won.
The design is powered by a single Rolls-Royce AE 3007N turbofan engine that delivers
10,000 lb or 4,500 kg of thrust.
The contract is worth $13 billion as around 72 such drones will be inducted in total.
Over the years, Boeing has been engaged in extensive testing of the MQ-25
demonstrator (referred to as T1) bearing the U.S. civil registration code N234MQ.
These tests form a crucial part of Boeing's ongoing efforts to
develop the initial production-representative prototypes of the Stingray for the U.S. Navy.
It is expected that MQ-25 will reach initial operational capability sometime in 2026.
The Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, previously known as the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS),
is a Loyal Wingman class stealth, multirole, unmanned aerial vehicle
in development by Boeing Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
It is designed as a force multiplier aircraft capable of flying alongside
manned aircraft for support and performing autonomous missions independently.
It s reported to have a range of 3,700 km or 2,300 mi.
The aircraft is the first combat aircraft designed and developed in Australia in over half a century.
In February 2019, Boeing said that it will "depend on the market" whether
the aircraft is manufactured in Queensland or the United States
Since its first public appearance, in 2019, 3 prototypes have been built and flight tested,
and work has been continuing to expand its flight envelope and tactical ability.
The Ghost Bat drone features a highly modular design and an open-architecture missions system.
Its key modular aspect revolves around the capability to interchange entire nose sections,
accommodating various sensors and systems.
The snap-on, snap-off nose, measuring approximately 8.5 feet long, offers
around 9,000 cubic inches of space, allowing for the integration of different payloads.
One notable sensor system that can be installed and integrated is an infrared search and track
(IRST) system. This flexibility enables a swarm of Ghost Bat drones to be tailored and
configured for specific missions, adapting to the requirements of each operational scenario.
To counter Western domination, countries like Russia & China have deployed long-range
Anti-ship missiles such as DF-26 and sophisticated air defense systems like
S-400 as part of the Anti-Access and Area Denial (A2AD) strategy.
Stingray & Ghost Bat will offset this. A F/A-18 or F-35 operates has a combat
radius of 555 km or 345 miles. An American supercarrier might need
to operate within an enemy’s striking range in order to project power and launch attacks.
But with MQ-25 Stingray this changes since the aircraft can be launched from further away.
MQ-28 is compact in dimension and being stealthy it will be hard to detect and track.
This will make it difficult for air defense systems to engage it.
Since it will be much lower in cost compared to fighters, it can be deployed in large numbers
to saturate air defense systems. A swarm of MQ-28 deployed with different payloads
some with Electronic Warfare equipment and some with guided bombs will be a complex
challenge for even the best air defense systems. Even if most are intercepted during a strike,
some will get through and knock off an air defense fortification.
So, it can be inferred that the Stingray & Ghost Bat autonomous
due would play a crucial role in the future.